THE NSW women's team will start planning this weekend for the defence of the "Interstate Challenge" title to be played under the Origin banner for the first time as a stand-alone event in June. In what would have been the 20th anniversey of the Interstate Challenge between Queensland and NSW for the Nellie Doherty Cup, the match will now be played as part of the Origin program. Members of the 2017 NSW Women’s Interstate Challenge side, which claimed back-to-back titles, will come together on Sunday, March 4 at the NSWRL Women’s Origin Pathways camp. The 17-woman squad, which includes Gerringong’s Ruan Sims, will undergo fitness testing at Belmore Sportsground, before an on-field training session and educational workshops, led by NSW women’s coach Ben Cross and NSWRL high performance staff. “The NSWRL Women’s Origin Pathways camp provides players and staff an opportunity to align their thoughts and training programs ahead of June’s stand-alone Origin fixture,” NSWRL coach development manager Alan Thompson said. The historic Women’s State of Origin fixture, formerly known as the Women’s Interstate Challenge, will be played on Friday, June 22, the same weekend as the men's Holden State of Origin clash at ANZ Stadium (Sunday, June 24). NSWRL Women’s Origin Pathways squad: Jasmin Allende, Kezie Apps, Sam Bremner, Jayme Fressard, Kylie Hilder, Rikeya Horne , Tahlia Hunter, Nita Maynard, Corban McGregor, Lavina O'Mealey, Rebecca Riley, Jessica Sergis, Taleena Simon, Ruan Sims, Shontelle Stowers, Elianna Walton and Rebecca Young​.

Gerringong's Ruan Sims named in women's NSW Origin squad

THE NSW women's team will start planning this weekend for the defence of the "Interstate Challenge" title to be played under the Origin banner for the first time as a stand-alone event in June.

In what would have been the 20th anniversey of the Interstate Challenge between Queensland and NSW for the Nellie Doherty Cup, the match will now be played as part of the Origin program.

Members of the 2017 NSW Women’s Interstate Challenge side, which claimed back-to-back titles, will come together on Sunday, March 4 at the NSWRL Women’s Origin Pathways camp.

The 17-woman squad, which includes Gerringong’s Ruan Sims, will undergo fitness testing at Belmore Sportsground, before an on-field training session and educational workshops, led by NSW women’s coach Ben Cross and NSWRL high performance staff.

The historic Women’s State of Origin fixture, formerly known as the Women’s Interstate Challenge, will be played on Friday, June 22, the same weekend as the men's Holden State of Origin clash at ANZ Stadium (Sunday, June 24).